Mary Loewen

Mary Loewen, nee Thiessen, died peacefully on Sunday, July 20, 2025, at the Country Meadows Personal Care Home, with family at her side.

Mary was born on July 2, 1931, into a large family, raised with a strong work ethic and steadfast Christian beliefs.   Mary accepted the Lord as her personal Saviour in her youth and was baptized in the Blumenort Church.   She sang in the church choir, taught Sunday School, and sewed clothes for others.  Mary spent many years caring for disabled children and became a foster parent to many.

At the age of 46, Mary embraced a new role by marrying Cornielius L. Loewen on Nov. 11, 1977.  She moved onto the farm in the rural community north of Riverton, and into a family that had 10 children; some had already left home and had their own families, and some still lived at home. Mary took on this new role with courage and grace, telling the older children that she could not replace their mom that had passed recently, but she could be their friend. 

Mary and Cornie relocated a few times throughout the years. Initially they moved off the farm to a small acreage, where Mary continued to have a large garden, and they also started a small second hand ‘store’ out of their home.  Many trips were taken to Winnipeg where they would return with produce, meat, dried goods, or used clothing items, to which family and community members were welcome to come to their home and purchase these items for an affordable price.  In 1992, they moved to the Neepawa area, settling in a home in town, where they both continued to live their life of servitude, inviting neighbours into their home and working on their creative hobbies, making things that were shared with those around them.  Mary and Cornie made their last move, as a couple, into the Neepawa Elks Manor.  They enjoyed this time together until Cornie required additional care and moved into the Personal Care Home which was nearby.  Mary continued to make it a priority to visit Cornie regularly until his death on June 1, 2008.  Mary remained at the Elks Manor until her health deteriorated and subsequently moved to the Personal Care Home.   Mary’s medical issues throughout the last few years, including a hip fracture and skin cancer, culminated until she was able to go to her eternal home on July 20.

Mary is remembered for her many passions: always welcoming, preparing food and feeding her visitors, traveling on trips with Cornie, shopping garage sales for good deals, loving children, making handicrafts, sharing blankets and socks with family and friends, and sending them to charitable organizations.  Mary took on her role as a grandma very seriously, treating grandchildren to valued time with visits, Christmas goody bags, and sharing a love of ice cream.  She remained a devout believer and continued to live her faith every day.

Mary is predeceased by her husband Cornelius, stepchildren Henry, Alvin, and Erna, two sisters, four brothers, seven brothers-in-law, and eight sisters-in-law. 

Mary is lovingly remembered by her brothers, Joseph, Benjamin (Betty), Jim (Vida), Frederick, and two sisters in-law, Tina and Helen;  Mary’s stepchildren, their spouses, and their families: Erna’s spouse, Cornie; Henry’s spouse, Rose; Olga (Abe); Mary (Burton); Alvin’s spouse, Irene; Wilbert (Kathy); Harold (Leanna); Peter (Rosanna); Les (Helen); Mildred (Harold);  90 grandchildren, 132 great-grandchildren,  and 8 great-great grandchildren. 

We, the family, wish to extend a heartfelt thank you to Dr. Wareham and the staff at Country Meadows Personal Care Home; your kindness, compassion, and excellent care have been so appreciated throughout the years, and especially in the last few weeks.

Funeral service for Mary will take place at 2 pm on Thursday, July 24, 2025, at the First Baptist Church in Neepawa.  Viewing will take place on Wednesday from 7:00-8:30 pm at the First Baptist Church, as well as 1 hour prior to the service.  Burial will take place following the service at the Rosedale Cemetery.

White’s Funeral Home, Neepawa, is in care of arrangements.

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